Author: Karabekian Emil

Voice of America
Nov 23 2006

Russia Warns Azerbaijan of Cuts Electricity, Gas Supplies in 2007
By VOA News
23 November 2006

Russia is warning Azerbaijan of possible cuts in the amount of both
electricity and natural gas it will provide that country next year.

Marlen Askerov, the vice president of Azerbaijani’s state power
company Azerenergy, said Thursday that Moscow has proposed sending
the Azerbaijanis one-fifth the amount of electricity it supplied them
a year ago. Starting next year, Russia says it will supply only 60
megawatts per day – down from 300 megawatts per day last year.

Askerov said Moscow is also proposing to raise the price of
electricity by 13 percent.

Wednesday, Russia’s state-run gas monopoly Gazprom announced plans to
cut natural gas supplies to Azerbaijan beginning next year. Gazprom
said it will supply Russia’s oil-and-gas rich neighbor with 1.5
billion cubic meters of gas in 2007.

Both moves follow Azerbaijani pledges to supply more gas to the
country’s neighbors, such as Georgia, from its own natural gas fields
in the Caspian Sea. Gazprom says Azerbaijan can still meet its
domestic needs despite the cut in natural gas supplies.

Gazprom has also tightened supplies or announced price hikes for
other countries such as Belarus and Armenia. Analysts say the moves
are designed to allow it to sell more energy on the lucrative western
European markets.

Some information for this report was provided by AP Bloomberg and
Reuters.

TURKEY OWES 3.5 BN TO HEIRS OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 17 2006

Turkey owes about £3.5 bn to the heirs of the Armenians killed
and robbed in genocide of 1918 in Baku; Azerbaijan, in turn, owes
£134,149,000, according to Khachatur Dadayan of Armenia’s National
Academy of Sciences. The figures appear in his book titled "Baku and
Armenians" and published by Noravank Foundation.

Dadayan’s study is based on the conclusions of a commission set up
by England, France and United States in December 1918 in Baku; only
7 out 30 members of the commission were Armenians. The commission
had suggested that Armenian population submit applications for
compensating the massacres and robberies occurred in Baku in 1918. In
1919, the commission concluded that 453.1 million rubles should be
paid to Armenians.

It also concluded that the money should have been paid by Turkey since
that country was considered the founder of Azerbaijan; in addition,
Turkish troops had entered Baku and submitted the Armenians to massacre
along with the local Azeris on September 15, 1918.

To calculate the sum that was to be paid to Armenians, the author
used the operations of Stepan Lianosian with English banks in 1919.

Lianosian had received a payment guarantee for 400,000 pounds and
issued 4 million rubles in the North-Western Republic.

November 1 was taken as the beginning point for calculations. Dadayan
says that Azerbaijan adopted a constitutional act on October 18,
1991, according to which, it is the successor of the Azerbaijani
Republic that existed between May 28, 1918 and April 28, 1920; this
means Azerbaijan has also assumed the obligation to make financial
reparations.

After applying a 5% banking interest for the periods between November
1918 and April 1920, and 1992-2006, the author concluded that the
successor of the First Azerbaijani Republic owes the heirs of the
victimized Armenians 134,149,000 pounds.

However, the commission has also recognized Turkey to be responsible
for what had happened and concluded that Turkey’s debt was 59,210,000
pounds. If the 5% banking interests for each year between 1918 and 2006
is added to this sum, Turkey’s debt accumulates to 4.552 bn pounds;
3.518 bn of this sum is the money owed to Armenians.

The author of the book believes that even in case Turkey and Azerbaijan
refuse to recognize the Armenian Genocide, they cannot deny to pay the
reparations because all the legal grounds exist for such reparations.

–Boundary_(ID_hvr9IogSzYJH15I+o6lvd Q)–

IRANIAN ACTOR IN SEX VIDEO SCANDAL SAYS EX-FIANCE FAKED FOOTAGE
Robert Tait in Tehran

Guardian Unlimited, UK
Nov 22 2006

· Former boyfriend faces prison after extradition
· 100,000 copies circulating amid cultural clean-up

Ebrahimi has dismissed the film as a fake made by a vengeful former
fiance. Photograph: Robert Tait

An Iranian actor at the centre of a video sex scandal has spoken
for the first time publicly to deny being a collaborator in the now
notorious home-made film.

Zahra Amir Ebrahimi, one of Iran’s best known television performers,
is facing social ostracism, a wrecked career and a possible lashing
after police seized copies of the footage, which appears to show her
having sex.

The film, which has been distributed in street markets and posted
on websites, has caused profound shock at a time when Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad’s Islamist government is trying to banish the "corrupting"
effects of western culture.

It has been given added impact by Ebrahimi’s reputation for playing
religious, morally upstanding characters in Iranian state TV soaps.

One highly successful series, Narges, was watched by an estimated 68%
of the population.

Police interrogated Ebrahimi at length after being alerted to the
film’s existence. She has not been charged but investigations are
continuing.

However, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Ebrahimi, 25,
denied being the woman in the film. She dismissed it as a fake made
by a vengeful former fiance who used studio techniques to form a
montage of incriminating images designed to destroy her career.

"I watched the film after I heard about the fuss from colleagues and
the girl in it is not me," Ebrahimi said.

"I admit there are some similarities to the character I played in
Narges. It is possible to use studio make-up to have a person look
like me. I have some knowledge of montage techniques and I know you
can create a new face by distorting the features of another person."

Legal experts say Ebrahimi’s denial may be sufficient to avoid
punishment. Under Iranian law, video footage must be corroborated
by supporting evidence or a confession. According to the legal code,
sex between two unmarried people carries punishment of up to 99 lashes.

Ebrahimi’s ex-fiance, an assistant film producer who has been referred
to publicly only as Mr X, is in custody after being extradited from
Armenia. He faces up to three years in jail and a £6,000 fine if found
guilty of making and distributing the film, which contravenes Iran’s
strict indecency laws.

He admits taking part but claims that Ebrahimi suggested the film,
which he says was shot in her home, and then distributed it herself.

However, in a 45-minute interview, Ebrahimi – wearing a hijab and a
long woollen coat – said her former fiance threatened revenge after
she ended their relationship a year ago because of his infidelity.

"He had a lot of affairs and our relationship ended in a very immoral
way," she said. "He said he would do something that would mean I would
be unable to hold my head up and would prevent me ever working again in
Iran. I think this film is him trying to put his threats into action."

An estimated 100,000 copies have been circulating in the last two
months. The accompanying publicity has prompted some parents to voice
concern that their children have asked to see the film, which has
been dubbed Narges II.

Private films showing sex scenes are not uncommon in Iran. However,
Ebrahimi’s high profile and the ongoing cultural clean-up campaign
have prompted a sensitive reaction from the authorities. Tehran’s
chief prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, has ordered police to conduct a
special investigation and wants death sentences for those convicted
of circulating such productions.

Ebrahimi acknowledged that she had been emotionally upset but denied
reports that the affair had driven her to attempt suicide. Her acting
career is in jeopardy amid reports that her employers are considering
dropping her.

But Ebrahimi, who comes from a religious family, said the heaviest
burden came from being accused of immorality in a religious society.

"According to the moral norms of Iranian society, it is very damaging
for this film to be distributed under my name," she said. "If you
look at my professional resume, you will see that I have taken part
in mainly spiritual or religious films and programmes.

"My parents and I thought we were living in a society with common
sense. Instead, we find that 90% of people are following this thing
and taking it seriously. If people have a chance, they are curious
about indecent and vulgar things."

–Boundary_(ID_XkbCqCpCwKvrLtrmwhRa 6A)–

ARMENIANS BUILD FULL-TIME CHURCH IN SCOTTSDALE
By Ari Cohn, Tribune

East Valley Tribune, AZ
Nov 21 2006

North Scottsdale is a far cry from the Armenian Quarter in the Old
City of Jerusalem, where Jerry Avakian was born.

Avakian is part of a small but growing group of adherents in Scottsdale
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian
churches. As parish council chairman, he’s leading his congregation
in building Arizona’s first full-time Armenian church, at 8849
E. Cholla St.

The congregation, which currently holds biweekly services at an
existing cultural center on the site, has about 100 members but is
slowly growing, Avakian said.

"Relative to other communities, perhaps that’s small, but it’s pretty
much in line with the Armenian community in the area," he said.

"We’re getting a lot more kids. It’s developing into a more mixed
community, so to speak."

The church relies on visiting clergy from California to conduct the
services, but is hoping to get a fulltime priest if Scottsdale approves
its request to build a new roughly 6,000-square-foot church, he said.

"Even if there was no growth, we’d be looking for a traditional place
to worship," Avakian said.

In 301 A.D., Armenia was the first country to establish Christianity
as its national religion. Services are conducted in Armenian, and
the faith differs somewhat from what is traditionally practiced in
the United States in its calendar, which places Christmas on Jan. 6,
Avakian said.

In the U.S., the Armenian population is centered in places like
Glendale, Calif., and Watertown, Mass., he said. When Avakian moved
to Scottsdale 30 years ago, the community here mainly comprised
second-generation Armenians.

Many were descendents of those who migrated out of what was Turkish
Armenia in early 1900s because of what came to be known as the
Armenian Genocide. During World War I, the Ottoman Turkish Empire
forcibly deported millions of Armenians to Syria and massacred untold
thousands. Turkey disputes the term "genocide," however.

"There is a very large number of Armenians that live outside of
Armenia. I would say every family has someone they’re related to who
left Turkish Armenia at that time," Avakian said.

Lately, he sees more immigration directly from Armenia and from
throughout the Middle East. Having a church and community in Scottsdale
could make it easier for others to relocate here, he said.

"I think the church is in fact an attraction," he said.

The proposed church would be built on a 5.5-acre site alongside
the congregation’s existing cultural center. It’s expected to have
a seating capacity for about 270 for religious services, weddings,
baptisms and funeral services.

Artin Knadjian, of AAK Architecture and Interiors, said his designs
were inspired by an ancient church in Armenia devoted to St. Hripsime.

"It happened to be one of my favorites," Knadjian said.

The building will hold true to religious and cultural traditions,
he said. For instance, the church will be crossshaped and capped by
a conical dome topping out at 45 feet.

"It does follow the tradition and design of the church wherein the
altar has to be on the east side of the building (facing Jerusalem)
and the entrance is on the west side," Knadjian said. "It’s a little
similar to the Romanesque style."

He said the exterior will be done in warm, desert browns and tans.

"It happens that the colors of ancient Armenia are similar to those
used in Arizona," Knadjian said. Robin Meinhart, the city’s planning
department spokeswoman, said the plans are expected to come up at a
future Development Review Board meeting. Avakian said the congregations
hopes to build early next year.

sty=79350

BAKU AFRAID OF CHANGES ON FRENCH POLITICAL ARENA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.11.2006 18:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Segolène Royal’s ascent can deal a painful blow
to France’s interests in the South Caucasus. The matter is that Ms
Royal was one of the initiators and authors of the bill penalizing
the Armenian Genocide denial adopted by the French National Assembly
October 12, 2006, reports Echo Baku-based newspaper.

The author of the article reminds that ‘France has already paid a high
price for this decision’. After accusing France of restricting the
liberty of conscience Turkey proceeded to consistent curtailment of
cooperation with France in many sectors, including the military one. In
2001 with the adoption of the law recognizing the Armenian Genocide
France deprived itself of contracts on delivery of tanks, rockets and
other military equipment. The history repeats," the article says. Baku
also thinks that since 2001 the French right-wing and left-wing forces
have demonstrated unity as regards the Armenian-Turkish issues.

–Boundary_(ID_f51y4oVNi+p3EugiIwaCcg)–

WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS APPROVES $100,000 TO UNION OF WRITERS OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006

World Armenian Congress (WAC) has approved $100,000 to the Union
of Writers of Armenia (UWA). The amount will be transferred to the
accounts of the Writers Fund in three native banks, Levon Ananyan,
UWA Chairman, said at a press conference, Monday.

He said the UWA Writers Fund has $200,000 at present. $40,000 will be
spent annually to satisfy the needs of native writers, in particular,
for foundation of a special prize fund, publication of books, and a
5,000 AMD rise in the pensions of the writers above 65 (who number
160 people at UWA).

In his speech, WAC President Ara Abrahamyan stressed the importance
of intellectuals in an independent state and in education of new
generation. "We shall do our best to contribute to writers. $100,000
this year, another $50,000 in 2007. We understand that it is not
enough for the existing problems. However, we shall try to help them,"
A. Abrahamyan said. He added that Levon Ananyan was awarded the Order
of the Union of Armenians of Russia – Silver Cross on the occasion
of his 60th anniversary.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION THREATENS TURKEY WITH GRAVE CONSEQUENCES

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.11.2006 12:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
threatened Turkey with grave consequences if Ankara doesn’t open its
harbors and airports for Cypriot ships and planes. In an interview
with Tagesspiegel Barroso said the refusal of the Turkish government
to meet the commitments will have grave consequences for the whole
process of Turkey’s EU membership talks, reports Deutsche Welle.

CYPRUS DHKO LEADER MEETS GREEK LEADERSHIP

Athens News Agency, Greece
Nov 15 2006

The new leader of Cyprus ruling Democratic Party (DHKO) Marios Karoyian
held talks with Greece’s state and political leadership during a
lightning visit to Athens on Wednesday, before he returns to Cyprus
on Thursday for local government elections taking place there.

The round of meetings began with talks held with Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyannis, while he was later received by President of the Republic
Karolos Papoulias.

Papoulias congratulated Karoyian on his recent election as head of
Diko and asked him to convey his regards to Cyprus President Tassos
Papadopoulos and Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas on his
return to Cyprus.

In his meeting with Bakoyannis, they discussed Turkey’s European
prospects, the Cyprus issue and the Finnish EU presidency’s proposal
for ending problems caused by Turkey’s refusal to fully implement the
EU-Turkey customs union protocol and open its ports and airports to
Cyprus ships and planes.

Karoyian said his talks with Bakoyannis had been "warm, friendly and
substantive" and that the two sides shared "common assessments and
objectives and common synergies in terms of carrying out the plans
of the two governments [Greek and Cypriot]".

In comments on the anniversary since the illegal Turkish occupation
regime in northern Cyprus was first established, Karoyian said that his
party condemned the "illegal formation in the occupied territories,
which was an entity subject to Turkey" and noted that its existence
was a "provocation for the international community".

The new leader of the Diko party also met Parliament President Anna
Psarouda-Benaki, who again expressed her congratulations on his
election and her best wishes for his term as party leader.

This was followed by a meeting with ruling New Democracy’s Central
Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis to discuss cooperation between
the two parties and exchange views on the Cyprus issue and the European
Commission’s progress report on Turkey issued a week earlier.

In a New Democracy party announcement after the meeting, Zagoritis
stressed the party’s support for Turkey’s European orientation
while noting that Turkey had an obligation to respect the values and
principles of the European Union and to fully adopt and implement
the criteria and terms it had been set for accession.

After meeting main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou,
Karoyian said they had the same views and positions with regard to
the Cyprus government’s objectives and handling of issues and that
Papandreou had undertaken to intensify general efforts to influence
decision-making centres that also determine assessment of Turkey’s
accession course, so that Turkey would finally realise that it must
behave like a modern, European country and be able to fulfill its
obligations.

Papandreou said they had discussed the EU progress report on Turkey,
and stressed that Turkey had to comply with the terms and its
obligations toward the EU, including EU member-state Cyprus.

"This is necessary and I believe that there will be the required
assessment of this course at the Summit meeting in December,"
Papandreou added.

PASOK’s leader also commented on the anniversary of the pseudo-state,
recognised only by Turkey, stressing that the day was a reminder that
the Cyprus problem was one of occupation and of occupation forces,
which should not exist in Europe today.

He called on Karoyian to "wage our battle together with the Cypriot
people, with you, for a just solution to the Cyprus issue".

Karoyian was elected as party leader on October 24 with the
backing of the party’s old guard, who had set up Diko three decades
earlier. At 45, he became the third and youngest party leader from
an extraordinary conference where he was challenged only by deputy
leader Nicos Cleanthous. Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos had
stepped down as party chief in August.

Karoyian, an Armenian Cypriot who rose up the ranks of the party
founded by the late Spyros Kyprianou, father of European Health and
Consumer Affairs Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, won by a surprisingly
wide margin of 62.6 per cent of the party’s voters over 37.4 per cent
for Cleanthous.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NKR’S INDEPENDENCE SHOULDN’T BEGIN FROM ARMENIA
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
16/11/2006

The international recognition of NKR’s independence shouldn’t
begin from Armenia, as that will hinder the settlement and will
create new obstacles in the negotiation process both for Armenia and
NKR. After such a step, all kind of possible consequences should be
figured out. But at present it is still early for the settlement
of the issue, Arman Melikian, councilor of NKR president, stated
at a press conference at "Urbat" club. He added that the financial
and material advantage will play no significant role in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of
deepening the democratic values and directing the nation’s capacity
to attaining one goal," he said.

As for the population of Lachin, Melikian said that they don’t have
definite data on the population of that region as the people are
in constant migration processes. At the same time, he said that the
issue of inhabiting Lachin is not only NKR’s problem. "We should admit
that solely by efforts of NKR, we will not be able to create relevant
conditions for fast and successful inhabitation of that territory,"
he said.

He said this issue is the concern of both Armenia and NKR and the
Diaspora that should spare no efforts for securing all conditions so
that Armenians can live in Lachin.

OPPOSITION LEADER PROTESTS PROSECUTOR’S STANCE ON ILLEGALITIES AGAINST HIS PARTY
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep
Nov 15 2006

A major opposition party wants the Prosecutor-General to institute
a criminal case over what it sees as repeated illegal actions aimed
against its activities.

Together with several fellow partisans the leader of the
Zharangutyun (Heritage) party Raffi Hovannisian protested near the
Prosecutor-General’s Office on Tuesday demanding a reply to the action
the party filed more than a month ago.

"On March 4, they illegally entered our office and we were locked
out. Four days later, at midnight, they entered the office and stole
our computer network and all our internal information from databases.

We demand that a case be brought for the illegal closure of our office
and the stealing," Hovannisian said, adding that pressures are already
being put on some of the most active members of the party.

He claimed that the actions connected with the office closure and
their eviction had been directly orchestrated from the presidential
palace. "I think the truth will be revealed if there is an unbiased,
comprehensive and normal investigation," Hovannisian said.

Hovannisian says the pressure is the result of authorities’ fear that
Heritage may prove a major opponent in next year’s election.

"Today, we have to do with a crime that has grounds for impeachment.

Names are not important, what’s important is that the institution
of the president of the Republic of Armenia has allowed a chain of
illegalities that go far beyond the framework of the constitution."

Computers from the Heritage office were taken for police expertise
after the party reported the trespassing.

Zaruhi Postanjian, a Heritage lawyer, says: "The expertise found that
the computers had been tampered with, monitors of unknown types had
been connected to them and some of the information had been subjected
to modification. We think that to have these findings and not to
institute a criminal case is illegal."

The Prosecutor-General replied that a new probe should be made and
only after that will it be decided whether to institute a criminal
case or not.